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Vα14 NKT cell-mediated anti-tumor responses and their clinical application

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Abstract

A unique lymphocyte population, Vα14 NKT cells, has recently been revealed to be a key player in the immune responses against tumors. Activation of Vα14 NKT cells affects various cell types, particularly dendritic cells (DCs), NK cells, CD4 Th1 cells, and CD8 cytotoxic T cells in the innate and acquired immune systems, eventually resulting in the enhanced activation of NKT cell-mediated cellular cascade in the anti-tumor responses. The specific ligand, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), effectively stimulates mouse and human NKT cells, making NKT cells an ideal target for the development of cancer immunotherapy. Clinical trials using α-GalCer have actually started in several centers in the world. In this review, we summarize the Vα14 NKT cell-mediated cellular cascade in the anti-tumor response in mice and discuss potential clinical applications of α-GalCer-pulsed DC therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Immune Regulation, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi, , 230-0045, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

    Ken-ichiro Seino, Shin-ichiro Fujii, Michishige Harada & Masaru Taniguchi

  2. Department of Immunology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chiba, Japan

    Shinichiro Motohashi, Toshinori Nakayama & Takehiko Fujisawa

Authors
  1. Ken-ichiro Seino
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  2. Shin-ichiro Fujii
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  3. Michishige Harada
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  4. Shinichiro Motohashi
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  5. Toshinori Nakayama
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  6. Takehiko Fujisawa
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  7. Masaru Taniguchi
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Correspondence to Masaru Taniguchi.

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Seino, Ki., Fujii, Si., Harada, M. et al. Vα14 NKT cell-mediated anti-tumor responses and their clinical application. Springer Semin Immun 27, 65–74 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-004-0194-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-004-0194-y

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